Penguins-Devils Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on pace to threaten the franchise records for most wins and points in a season, and that's while leading the league in man-games lost to injury.

Picking up two points in New Jersey, however, hasn't come easy for Pittsburgh in recent years.

The Penguins close their four-game road trip looking for a 15th victory in their last 17 games Tuesday at the Prudential Center, where they've won twice in their last 13 visits.

Pittsburgh (29-11-1) scored three power-play goals in a 5-3 win over Columbus on Sunday, eclipsing the franchise mark for victories through 41 games that was held by the 1992-93 team that won 56 games. The Penguins are on pace to finish one point off the club mark of 119 put up by the '92-'93 team.

"With the injuries we've had, the guys have come in, and the job they've done is a big reason why we've had a decent first half," captain Sidney Crosby said after recording a goal and two assists to increase his NHL-best point total to 58. "We were at a point where we started to lose guys and it could have gone either way. But we've found a way to survive."

Malkin, who fully participated in practice Monday, has missed nine of the Penguins' 13 games this month, but usual linemate James Neal has been thriving since coming back from a five-game suspension. Neal scored three times while playing with Crosby in Sunday's win and has four goals and six assists in the five games since his return.

"It's funny. When a guy like 'Geno' goes down you get to play with 'Sid,'" Neal told the team's official website. "It's pretty special. I'm trying to find some chemistry with both of them."

The Devils (16-16-8) have lost two of three to Pittsburgh this season, but won the lone home meeting -- something that's not unusual in this series. New Jersey is 11-2-0 against the Penguins at home since the calendar turned to 2009, yielding 22 goals.

It's done an especially good job slowing down Crosby, holding him to a goal and three assists in his last seven trips to Newark.

Martin Brodeur made 27 saves in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 16, and he'll get another start Tuesday.

The Penguins probably won't be too happy to see the 41-year-old. Brodeur is 9-2-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average in starting 11 of Pittsburgh's last 12 visits.

"We needed this as a group," Schneider said. "We've been stringing some points together, which is nice. But we couldn't settle for one. I think we needed the two."

Only Boston has been stingier at home than New Jersey, which has allowed 1.71 goals per game there despite going just 7-5-5.

The Devils got captain Bryce Salvador back for the first time in more than two months Saturday and fellow defenseman Anton Volchenkov should play Tuesday after missing the Islanders game with "total body soreness."

The status of winger Steve Bernier is up in the air after he fell and crashed into the boards in Monday's practice.